MEDICINAL USES 463 



are many more reliable agents. In combination, however, 

 with aloes, jalap, or calomel, it relieves torpidity or congestion 

 of the liver ; while its nauseant and sedative effects may 

 occasionally be used for lowering cardiac action in acute 

 lymphangitis, rheumatism, and other inflammatory disorders 

 in robust patients. Although possessed of vermifuge 

 powers, depending upon its purgative effect, it does not 

 appear to have any special vermicide action. For human 

 patients it is prescribed, both in this country and America, 

 in habitual constipation, hepatic congestion, in some forms 

 of sick headache, and, in smaller doses, as an alterative in 

 skin diseases and rheumatism. Half a grain to a grain of 

 the resin slowly empties the bowels. 



' DOSES, etc. For cholagogue or sedative purposes, horses 

 and cattle take Jj. to 3ij- of podophyllum resin, with aloes, 

 calomel, nitre, or Epsom salt. For dogs, gr. j. to grs. ij. ; 

 with calomel, gr. j. to grs. ij., may be conjoined with half a 

 dose of jalap or olive oil. Nausea and griping are obviated 

 by admixture of ginger or other carminative, and of henbane 

 or cannabis indica. The B.P. tincture contains two grains 

 of podophyllum resin in each fluid drachm. 



RHUBARB 



RHEI RADIX. The erect rhizome, or so-called root, deprived 

 of more or less of its cortex, and dried, of Rheum 

 palmatum, Rheum officinale, and probably other 

 species. Collected in China and Thibet (B.P.). Nat. 

 Ord. Polygonaceae . 



The perennial, herbaceous rheums grow on the hill ranges 

 of the interior of China and Thibet ; the roots, after five 

 years' growth, are collected in summer, are cleaned, peeled, 

 cut into round or flat reddish-yellow pieces, and each piece 

 is usually bored with a hole, through which a cord is run in 

 order to dry it hanging in the sun. The powder is bright 

 yellow-brown, has a strong, peculiar, aromatic odour, with a 

 bitter astringent taste, and when chewed is gritty, from the 

 presence of calcium oxalate crystals. It is dissolved by 

 ether and rectified spirit, and less readily by cold and hot 



